Downtown Cleveland

Balancing Preservation with Economic Development

The Wolfe Music Building at 2112 Euclid Avenue is threatened with demolition by Cleveland State University to make way for a $25 million health sciences and life sciences building. Built in 1927 and designed by the prominent architectural firm Walker and Weeks (who also designed Severance Hall) the building has been vacant for fifteen years. It housed Wolfe Music, the National Register Company and Cooper School of Art. Preservationists believe the building could be included in the new development and Councilman Jeffrey Johnson supports its designation as a Cleveland Landmark.

The Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, a $350 million dollar development in the historic Higbee Building at Tower City Center, has infused a needed dose of life into Public Square, but concerns remain that the developers will build their hoped-for pedestrian bridge between the parking garage and the Higbee Building when the recapture period for their historic tax credits end. Traffic to the casino also prompted a plan to turn the May Company Building into a parking garage. Thankfully, the Cleveland Landmarks Commission denied this request.

The Stanley Block at 2121 Ontario Street is surrounded by parking for Cleveland's Horseshoe Casino. An ownership dispute has left the landmark building's future in limbo.

The May Co. Building has been a landmark on Cleveland's Public Square since 1914, although the department store has been closed since 1989.

How You Can Help

For more information on how you can help save these resources or to join the Society's Advocacy and Public Policy Committee, call (216) 426-1000.